Home Schools University of Virginia Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #28 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat University of Virginia-Main Campus

Graduates earn $47,368/yr in their first year — about 35.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $660K; scenarios range from $582K to $685K depending on AI disruption.

Charlottesville, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
53 AVERAGE
54
Optimistic
46
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,368
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$660K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Virginia

While the career paths for a Communication degree can seem broad, your success here is deeply tied to the UVA brand itself. You aren't just earning a degree; you're gaining entry into a powerful, well-connected alumni network, particularly strong in the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia corridor. This proximity creates a direct pipeline into competitive roles in public affairs, political consulting, and corporate communications for major government contractors and D.C.-based firms. The program's reputation for producing sharp, analytical thinkers means employers recruit for potential, not just specific technical skills. That high AI risk score? It highlights a critical truth: your value won't be in just writing press releases, but in strategic thinking and networking. Your most important move is to secure a D.C.-area internship by your junior year to leverage that network before you even graduate.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$582K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple6.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$660K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple7.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$685K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple8.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Virginia's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Communication and Media Studies graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Public relations managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 6,600 openings/yr
$138,520/yr
High
2
Fundraising managers
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$123,480/yr
High
3
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
4
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
5
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
6
Media and communication workers, all other
+2.7% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$71,770/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies

How University of Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
61
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Ashford University
CA · Private for-profit
47
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
NY · Public
61
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
19.7x
ROI
Boston College
MA · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Also at University of Virginia

Other top programs at University of Virginia

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communication and Media Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at University of Virginia

What does a 53/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at University of Virginia-Main Campus?

At 53/100, University of Virginia-Main Campus's Communication and Media Studies program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Communication and Media Studies at University of Virginia-Main Campus?

The 55% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is University of Virginia-Main Campus one of the best schools for Communication and Media Studies?

Among 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, University of Virginia-Main Campus's #28 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.